ND Tiwari 'sex scandal' outrages Andhra Pradesh

A TV footage allegedly showing veteran Congress leader and Governor of Andhra Pradesh ND Tiwari, 86, in bed with three women has caused a major controversy in the country.

The sex clip shows an old man who is naked in bed with three women. Governor House was quick to issue a denial. Telugu channel ABN Andhra Jyothi had been airing the video since afternoon.

But the High Court was approached and it directed the TV channels, not to telecast it. By then the channel had, however, shown this clip that had apparently been shot with a spy camera, for hours. But on websites like Youtube.com the clip was visible.

Though another Congress' leader and former governor, who is also in 80s, had faced similar allegations, there was never any video or photograph that could be thrown to substantiate the charge. With Andhra Pradesh undergoing a volatile situation due to the KCR's agitation for separate Telangana, the scandal is adding to the discomfort of Congress.

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Selling Editorial Space: News Up for Sale in Indian Media

Someone had to write it someday and the weekly Outlook has finally brought up the subject, with a cover story on the unethical side of the news business.

The dirty practice of paid and sponsored content in Indian media has reached a point where the ethos are journalism are under threat.

Advertorials have become a thing of past. First Times of India began selling editorial space and published paid reports as news. Now almost all the major newspaper groups are bargaining for packages during election campaigns.

In Hindi and vernacular newspapers, the malaise has spread fast. All political parties, leaders and candidates are approahed. If they pay up, the campaigns are given coverage and news stories are planted, suggesting that they are winning or the voter is wholeheartedly with the candidate. Else, the contestant is blacked out.

Ironically, bigwigs in media and the toothless Press Council remain mute specatators to this dirty practice, which is now a multi-million industry in every major state capital in North India, either it is civic and assembly poll or the parliament elections.

Will the Outlook story shame the media barons! Read the article by Anuradha Raman, 'News you can abuse' online in the issue titled 'FOR SALE JOURNALISM', that also has articles by Vinod Mehta and Neelabh Mishra.

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Justice Liberhan humiliates journalists, says 'get lost'

It was another low for Indian media. Justice (Retired) Liberhan shouted at journalists and asked them to 'Get lost' but the journalists still ran after him and their channels showed the entire scene.

Not one of them had the guts to tell him, 'Lay off' or 'Get lost' for heading a commission on which Rs 15 crore (150 million) was spent and that took 17 years to submit its report.

Is it not incompetence that the Commission takes ages to present its report and even then comes out with strange observations like overlooking the Centre's inaction during the demolition of the Babri mosque.

Ironically, electronic media had no option but to telecast the 'byte'. The impolite and rough tone of Liberhan could have been blocked. The media has the right to ask how the report got leaked but when someone speaks discourteously, it should also be able to confront him for his lack of civility.

Unfortunately the TV channels have brought disgrace to themselves and the entire journalists' community by airing the comments. The reporters and cameramen are pressed to get byte and this rush to get the 'version' even when the person is unwilling, has shamed the media world.

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